Makes his Test debut against South Africa in Durban, scoring 5 and 1 as Pakistan win by 29 runs. He is the fourth Christian to represent Pakistan.

March 28, 1998

One-day debut is better

Makes his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in Harare, scoring an unbeaten 59 to help Pakistan chase 237 with four wickets left.

November 10, 1998

Maiden ton in vain

Hits his maiden ODI hundred, 100 from 111 balls in his 10th ODI, against Australia, but the tourists chase down 316 with six wickets in hand, successfully equaling the then-highest run-chase in one-day international history.

December 13, 1998

Conversion at last

After having scored four half-centuries in his first six Tests, converts the fifth into a maiden hundred against Zimbabwe in Lahore.

June 1999

Sad end to World Cup

Misses the final of the World Cup against Australia at Lord's because of a hamstring injury. Is in good form prior to that, with 161 runs from four games at 53.66.

November 5-9, 1999

Australia thump Pakistan, but love Youhana

Classy twin half-centuries cannot prevent defeat at Brisbane, but he earns rave reviews for his application and strokeplay. Scores 95 in the first innings, adding 151 with Inzamam-ul-Haq in 51 overs, and 75 in the second.

May, 2000

As good as a calypso

Enhances his reputation as a class act with two hundreds in the West Indies, but Pakistan lose the series.

March 18, 2001

One to open the floodgates

Hits 203, his first double hundred, out of a total of 571 in a high-scoring draw in Christchurch. Adds 248 for the seventh wicket with Saqlain Mushtaq.

August, 2002

So long

Is sent back home from a tri-nations tournament in Kenya on charges of insubordination. Is accused of not following captain Waqar Younis's instructions to appear at the nets.

January, 2003

Fast, but late

Hits a 27-ball fifty, the second fastest in Test history, in a losing cause against South Africa in Cape Town. Hits Nicky Boje for four fours, a two and a six off the first over he receives from the spinner. The first ball of the next over also goes six, perhaps the shots of a man resigned to defeat.

October 2003

In the dock

Is fined 50% of his match fee for an incident involving Graeme Smith and Andrew Hall during the second one-day international in Lahore. Is found guilty of a Level 1 offence while Smith and Hall are banned for one ODI.

December 26, 2004

Boxing Day punches

Scores a century in Melbourne on Boxing Day when standing in as captain - an attacking 111 from 134 balls on the first day.

June, 2005

Father over cricket

Returns home ahead of the first Test in Barbados after his father is diagnosed with a kidney ailment, and despite the team-management's requesting that he return for the second Test, he tells the board that he is in no state of mind to make the journey. Later that week, announces he will undergo surgery on a chronic shoulder problem that has troubled him for a couple of years.

September, 2005

What's in a name?

Converts to Islam, and changes his name to Mohammad Yousuf. Reveals he has taken the step after attending preaching sessions from a leading religious group. Rumours swirl that he had been pressurised into the change by a team with increasingly devout Islamic beliefs.

December 2, 2005

Dealing in doubles

His third double-hundred sets up a series-deciding victory over England at Lahore. Pakistan are in trouble at 68 for 3, but he forges partnerships and when he departs at 516 for 6, he has 223 runs to his name.

April, 2006

County chaos

Announces he will not play for Derbyshire, as earlier stated, due to a registration problem. Is originally selected as a temporary replacement for Jacques Rudolph, but cannot fulfill the ECB stipulation that counties may only use temporary substitutes for players who are away on international duty, not those who are injured.

July-September, 2006

Enchanting England

Is the leading run-getter by a long way in the Pakistan-England series, scoring 631 runs at an average of 90.31. It includes three centuries, one of them a double at Lord's, and one a score of 192 at Headingley. England still win the series 3-0.

November, 2006

Outdoing Sir Viv

Scores 192 in Lahore, 191 in Multan, and 102 and 124 in Karachi to break Sir Viv Richards's 30-year-old record for most Test runs in a calendar year. Scores 1,788 Test runs in 11 Tests and averages, between November 2005 and November 2006, 92.00 in 14 Tests.

January, 2007

Misses the first Test against South Africa at Centurion as his wife is due to give birth.

March 2007

Wisden warm up to Yousuf

Yousuf is named one of Wisden's five Cricketers of the Year for 2006, his year. Is later named the Test player of the year by the ICC.

August, 2007

Unwanted in Pakistan

Is omitted from Pakistan's squad for the inaugural ICC World Twenty20. Is soon named on the roster of star signers with the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL) in India, prompting plenty of speculation back home.

September, 2007

U-turn

Is back in the Pakistan fold, and gets a central contract after he cancels his commitment with the ICL.

October, 2007

Truth is stranger

Days after being drafted back into the national side, pulls out of the first Test against South Africa, which Pakistan lose. "I haven't practised for the last two months, and I told the selectors I will not be playing the first Test yesterday. I have no injury, but I felt I was not match fit," says later.

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